6 Six sources of research topics3. Practical problems (problems in your class, school, job) Six students failed in my last semester’s course 4. Pop ups -fleeting thoughts (falling apples) How about the neighbors?

12 Differences among the Topic, Problem, Purpose, and QuestionsGeneralTopicDistance learningResearchProblemLack of students in distance classesTo study why students do not attend distance education classes at a community collegePurposeStatementDoes the use of interactive web pages help to increase students’ enrollment in distance education classes?ResearchQuestionSpecific

13 Primary & SecondaryA primary source is a firsthand report of observations or research results written by the individual( s) who actually conducted the research and made the observations.A secondary source is a description or summary of another person’s work. A secondary source is written by someone who did not participate in the research or observations being discussed.

14 Difference Secondary sourcesA textbook, for example, often summarizes 10 years of research, citing several important studies, in a few paragraphs.A meta- analysis, for example, provides a great overview of an area by combining the results from a number of studies.Primary sources= Individual research reports that fill 10 to 15 pages in journals are often summarized in one or two sentences in secondary sources.

15 Start withSecondary sources and then choose a few primary sources for more details.

22 The purpose of lit reviewThe purpose of your literature review is to provide the elements needed for directing (not just to justify) your own research study.Your literature review should help the reader to predict the purpose of your research before you say it.

23 Bad Example Goal= study the effect of internet on aggressive behaviorLiterature= teenagers and their social issuesorthe advancement of technologygender gapracial differences.

25 Tips on lit reviewStart with a textbook or some thing to get the whole picture(narrow down to a chapter) or a review researchMake list of correct terms keywords, or subject words (foster care not foster home, cyber bully not internet bully )Find key people or key authors

29 Don’t include your story of ERIC search in the final proposal.You may include a mini review in pre-proposal to get feedback.Don’t be persuasive or advocating somethingAvoid searching for the obvious. We already know Technology, service-learning, counseling, works. Ask something we don’t know.

30 Warning about proposalGeneral topic might be important but you should show why your specific topic is important. Autism is important but why do we need to research their siblings.

31 Warning about proposalDon’t use the format or criteria used suggested in another course. For example, in literature review some have 4 parts: purpose, process, synthesis, and conclusion. I don’t ask for the purpose and process.Do not use your papers from other courses. They are not appropriate for research proposal. They are provocative, persuasive, qualitative, subjective. It is hard to do empirical and quantitative research on social justice, social gaps, minority issues, ethnographic studies…etc.

32 Final words1- Get a complete reference for each article. (Use RefWorks) 2- If it is a web site get the URL or DOI (digital object identifier). 3- Find suggestions for further research. 4- Criticize, modify , or extend an existing research. 5- Combine or contrast existing results. 6- Look for gaps or contradictions.